From jenny@dsrt.com Wed Mar 11 00:41:37 1998
Date: Sat, 18 Oct 1997 17:55:18 -0700
From: Jenny
To: "permaculture@listserv.oit.unc.edu"
Subject: Patterning Intensive
PERMACULTURE DRYLANDS INSTITUTE :
PATTERNING INTENSIVE
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
DATE: November 6-9 (form 9am to 5 pm)
We are almost at capacity!! Call soon if you are interested.
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LOCATION: EARTHWORKS Santa Fe, New Mexico
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INSTRUCTORS: Tim Murphy and Ben Haggard
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PDI (Permaculture Drylands Institute)
P.O. Box 156
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504
Need more information? Call Jenny (505) 983-0663
e-mail: PDrylands@aol.com
http://members.aol.com/pdrylands/PDIhome1.htm
========================================================================
Life takes its form from the flows that move through it,
and the forces that pass over it. Interaction between functional needs
and dynamic flow shapes living organisms, structures, and systems.
The ability to "read" patterns brings us into dynamic relationship with
landscape, changing our perception of ourselves and the world around us
forever.
Through Patterning, we apply the dynamics of flow in nature to the
design of homes, farms, and communities. Patterning allows the designer
to weave natural and human energy patterns within an integrated whole.
Using patterning, we can assess and manage a sophisticated body of
information, and reach design conclusions quickly and accurately.
We possess a natural, inborn awareness of patterns. However, as members
of a symbol literate society, our pattern recognition skills often
atrophy. Whether you are a permaculture designer wanting to heighten
your design skills, a permaculture teacher seeking a better
understanding of this crucial area of permaculture knowledge, or
applying permaculture concepts in your own life, this workshop will
immerse you in pattern observation and patterning practice, enhancing
your skills and awareness. It aims to
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- reawaken innate pattern recognition skills, building upon
participants' current understanding and state of awareness
-provide experience with extrapolating the patterns and dynamics of flow
from one to another
- apply pattern understanding to the design process
Workshop activities include field outings,
>>>>>>AERIAL FLYOVER<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
group discussion and projects, slide presentations, and experiential
exercises.
Date: November 6-9 (form 9am to 5 pm)
We are almost at capacity!! Call soon if you are interested.
Location: EARTHWORKS INSTITUTE Santa Fe, New Mexico
Instructors: Tim Murphy and Ben Haggard
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEE: $525 Credit cards accepted, non-refundable deposit of $175 holds a
place in the workshop.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PREREQUISITE: Basic Permaculture Design Course
This is an advanced course and requires a deep understanding of
Permaculture Philosophy and Design.
-------------------------------------------------------------
PDI (Permaculture Drylands Institute)
P.O. Box 156
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504
Need more information? Call Jenny (505) 983-0663
e-mail: PDrylands@aol.com
http://members.aol.com/pdrylands/PDIhome1.htm
From london@sunsite.unc.edu Wed Mar 11 00:54:19 1998
Date: Wed, 11 Mar 1998 00:46:57 -0500 (EST)
From: "Lawrence F. London, Jr."
To: london@sunsite.unc.edu
Subject: permaculture-patterns
To: permaculture@listserv.oit.unc.edu
Subject: Re: edge zones
From: Lee Flier
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 1997 23:39:50 -0500
In-Reply-To:
Reply-To: permaculture@listserv.oit.unc.edu
Sender: owner-permaculture@listserv.oit.unc.edu
Lawrence wrote:
>Would anyone care to expound on the design and usage of
>edge zones and patterning in the context of permaculture
>systems?
OK, I'll bite.
Yes, the patterning in design and the use of edge zones is very important
in maximizing use of resources on any site. It's a really underrated and
fascinating area of study.
"Edge zones" occur naturally at the transition point between any two
media.
This could be between air and water, water and soil, forest and field,
valley and slope, etc. The interesting thing is that the edges of
anything
are always very dynamic and productive compared to the interiors. For
example most farmers know that the yields at the edges of grain or
cornfields are almost double what they are in the interiors! Also if you
look at a pond, there is more potential diversity of species at the edges
of ponds than in the middle.
So, in designing sites we want to maximize the amount of "edge". In the
case of the grain fields for example, you can plant trees, (together with
herbs, fruit bearing shrubs, vining plants, tubers and anything else that
will do well under trees), and then run 6 foot wide swaths of grain in
clearings between the trees. This gives you a "perpetual edge" and you
will get nearly the same yield you would have had if you'd planted all
grain, PLUS the yield from the trees and other plants.
Likewise with a pond, if you make "fingers" all around instead of a simple
round or oval shape, you will get much more edge which will yield a lot
more in the same area.
Nature itself has a tendency to arrange things into certain patterns that
appear random to us if we aren't conscious of them, but which are often
optimized to create edge (as with the "finger" shape which is also in an
oak leaf, the "branching" shapes of rivers, lungs, and tree branches,
etc.)
The shape of a mushroom is also prevalant; trees, bones, the flowforms of
running water, and many other things take on this shape. The patterns,
the
reasons why the patterns occur, and the connections between them are
endless but the basic ones are fairly simple, and a lot of aboriginal
"abstract art" is really a map of these natural patterns, a way to pass
knowledge of them down to the children. Most westerners see this artwork
and see it as purely aesthetic, not having a clue that they're looking at
the equivalent of a school textbook - only a lot easier to memorize!
The idea in learning these natural patterns is that by imitating them in
human designs (rather than patterning everything after the needs of
machinery, such as in straight lines and squares), we will get more out of
the system with less work and less use of resources because these are the
patterns things "want" to fall into without our help. We in fact are
wasting resources every time we try to design a system that runs counter
to
these patterns.
Well that's the basic idea... I'm sure others will have something to say
too!
= Lee =
==================================
Lee A. Flier
lflier@mindspring.com
Atlanta and Ellijay, Georgia, U.S.A.
References:
edge zones
From: "Lawrence F. London, Jr."